Battle of Montiel

The Battle of Montiel was a battle fought in 1369 between Franco-Castilian forces supporting Henry II and the forces of the reigning Peter of Castile.

For an earlier battle of the Reconquista, see Battle of Montiel (1143).

Battle of Montiel
Part of the Castilian Civil War
Miniature of the Battle of Montiel from the "Chronicles" of Jean Froissart (15th century)
Date 14 March 1369 Location Montiel, La Mancha, Castile Result Decisive Franco-Castilian victory
Belligerents
Castilians Granada	Castilians France
Commanders and leaders
Peter of Castile (POW)	Bertrand Du Guesclin Henry II of Castile
Strength
~15000 troops	unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown	unknown

Background

In 1366 there was a civil war of succession in Castile. The ruling Peter of Castile's forces were pitched against those of his half brother Henry of Trastámara, a bastard of the former king. Peter was supported by England, Trastámara by the French. Edward, Prince of Wales (known as the Black Prince), in his capacity as Prince of Aquitaine, led the English forces and the French were led by Bertrand du Guesclin[1] The reason Edward represented Aquitaine rather than England, was to avoid the breach of a peace treaty between the French and English that was in place at the time.[2]

The armies in support of Trastámara were defeated at the battle of Najera in 1367, but Peter of Castile lost the advantage because he did not remunerate his ally the Black Prince. The Black Prince, also affected by dysentery, withdrew his support from Peter and returned to Aquitaine.[3]

The battle

The Franco-Castilian force was led by Bertrand du Guesclin, while Peter of Castile led a Castilian-Granadine force. The Franco-Castilians were victorious largely thanks to the enveloping tactics of du Guesclin.

The aftermath

After the battle, Peter fled to the castle of Montiel, where he became trapped. In an attempt to bribe Bertrand du Guesclin, Peter was lured into a trap outside his castle refuge. In the confrontation his half-brother Henry stabbed Peter multiple times. His death on 23 March 1369 marked the end of the Castilian Civil War. His victorious half-brother was crowned Henry II of Castille.

Henry made du Guesclin Duke of Molina and formed an alliance with the French King Charles V. Between 1370 and 1376, the Castilian fleet provided naval support to French campaigns against Aquitaine and the English coast while du Guesclin recaptured Poitou and Normandy from the English.[2]

Notes

1. Curry. The Hundred Years War. pp. 69-70
2. Wagner. Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War. p. 178
3. Wagner. Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War. p. 122

References

• Curry, Anne (2002). The Hundred Years War 1337-1453. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-84176-269-5.
• DeVries, Kelly (2006). Battles of the Medieval World. New York: Barnes & Noble. pp. 148–157. ISBN 0-7607-7779-9.
• Wagner, John A (2006). Encyclopedia of the Hundred Years War. Westport CT: Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-32736-X.